Saturday, 29 April 2017

23. The Brain and Its Functions

DISCOURSES ON

RADHASOAMI
FAITH

BY

MAHARAJ SAHAB

Pandit Brahm Sankar Misra,
M.A.

23. THE BRAIN AND ITS
FUNCTIONS

42.
In the structure of the human frame, the brain is the most extraordinary organ.
The functions of all its parts are, however, not quite understood. Different
parts of the brain have no doubt been mapped out with references to the parts
they play in regulating the lower structure. For instance, there is the speech-centre
in the brain, the centre which regulates locomotion, etc. etc. but the
knowledge we possess of the functions of the brain is of a most superficial
character and is quite incommensurate with the economy of this wonderful
apparatus. In support of our statement we would make the following
observations. A person goes into the condition of trance, or is rendered
senseless by the administration of chloroform. The substance of the brain (both
grey and white), which appears to be the source from which all lower nervous
centres have been created, also becomes insensitive and shares the condition of
the rest of the physical frame. The inference from this observation is that the
spirit-centre is not in the substance of the brain, and that its focus is
situated in a plane altogether different from the plane of brain-matter.
Another inference from the same observation is that the plane of sensory action
is also lower than that of the substance of the brain. In the lower animals, a
perceptible diminution is traceable in the functions of the brain, and a stage
is reached where the animal becomes entirely independent of the brain for its
existence. If we go further down in the scale of creation, all trace of the
brain entirely disappears, and yet the process of assimilation and other
concomitant functions of life exist. In the vegetable kingdom the nerves and
the ganglia do not exist, and yet growth and sustenance of vegetable existence
takes place. This clearly indicates that the nerves, the nervous centres, and
the brain, which is, as it were, the reservoir of nerve-power, have other
important functions to perform which are distinct from the functions of growth
and sustenance of the physical frame. Those functions are subjective, and
perception and volition are the two main branches thereof. The powers of
perception and volition are, however, not always
dependent upon the nerves etc. for the performance of their functions. This is
proved demonstratively in the case of disembodies spirits (vide Articles 11 and
13). The cessation of the functions of nerves etc. during trance etc. which is
attended at times by a manifestation of powers which are not ordinarily found
in the normal state of human life, corroborates the same truth. These
extraordinary powers clearly indicate that the human frame is possessed of
potentialities which may by proper training endow the devotee with powers
possessed by disembodies spirits and by higher beings. Thought-reading and the
power of abstracting articles from such places as do not admit of access are
instances which corroborate our statement. These instances are instructive
otherwise also, and show that the scope of the subjective economy of humanity
is very much wider than what we assign to it. As we shall presently explain,
these observations give us a clue to the secrets of the microcosm.

43.
The ordinary functions of the human frame, including the entire nervous system,
consist of the life-giving, life-sustaining, and the responsive powers. This
proposition broadly includes all the ordinary physical and subjective
conditions of human life. Underlying the planes of these functions, there are
subtler planes within the nervous system, and the innermost part of each
nervous centre is associated with the subtle plane peculiar to it. When these subtle
planes are acted upon through nervous centres, communion with the macrocosmic
spheres corresponding with them is established, and the powers of the presiding
deities of these spheres are imbibed. The brain from which all the lower
nervous centres have been created is similarly associated with very subtle
planes. They do not belong to the part of the creation within our vision, but
to the higher regions of creation, viz, to those of the Universal Mind and to
those of the source of the pure-spirit, the true Supreme Being. By developing
the latent powers of these planes in the brain, communion can be established
with Brahma and the true Supreme
Creator. This function of the brain emphasizes the supreme importance of this
organ in the economy of the microcosm. We now proceed to indicate with which
part of the brain the subtler and higher planes, referred to, are associated.